Howell ruled there was probable cause to hold Perez for trial on felony counts of solicitation of murder and possession of a firearm. Both counts include gang allegations.

The judge also held Oscar Salvador Rivera, 20, of Gridley, to answer for felony counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and receiving stolen property, as a result of a search based on information from Jones' phone. However, Howell struck gang allegations because the prosecution didn't prove Rivera possessed the weapon for gang purposes.

The cases also have connections to other cases where gang activity is alleged, including a Oct. 2 shootout at the south Oroville 7-Eleven store and an alleged drug ring busted in 2011.

Outside of court, deputy district attorney Marc Noel said police stopped a vehicle in south Oroville where Jones was a passenger on Dec. 12. During a parole search, officers discovered Jones was sitting on a gun and took him into custody.

Officers reviewed Jones' phone and discovered text messages and other information about Perez and a person later identified as Rivera.

After Perez was arrested, four gang members reportedly confronted Jones this month and threatened to kill him if he couldn't fix the situation. Jones, who had been out of custody on bail, went to police, Noel said.

Jones pleaded no contest Feb. 20 to felony counts of carrying a loaded weapon as a gang member and carrying it in a vehicle. He was given three years of probation and placed into protective custody.

As part of his plea change, Jones testified Tuesday although at one point he was angry at having to choose between protecting his family and protecting someone he called a brother.

Noel questioned Jones about the text messages from "Da Beast," whom Jones identified as Perez. Jones said he had been a gang member for 20 years and believed Perez could admit him into a local group if he attacked Alvarez.

Alvarez, known as "Baby Oso," was not in good standing with the gang because he had married the ex-wife of a man who acted as a high-ranking officer in the larger gang organization, according to Butte County sheriff's detective Silver Paley.

Jones said Perez sent information about Alvarez's whereabouts and authorized an attack. Jones encountered Alvarez on the street, but didn't attack. He instead warned that people knew where Alvarez lived.

According to Noel, the last message Perez allegedly sent Jones stated one should attack with killing force when a superior authorizes an attack.

Regarding Rivera, there were several texts on Jones' phone between Jones and someone known as "Tech Nine" regarding weapons. Rivera was the only person in the area who used that moniker, according to Gridley-Biggs police detective Scott Smallwood.

That information led to a Jan. 4 probation search of Rivera's Sussex Avenue residence in Gridley. Officers found a shotgun in a southwest bedroom, clothing in gang colors and a written document about the gang.

According to online court records regarding Rivera's May conviction for felony receiving a stolen weapon, he was barred from possessing weapons or maintaining gang ties.

Rivera's attorney, Roberto Marquez, argued that the gang enhancement should be dropped because the facts show only that Rivera possessed the weapon and there was no specific intent for gang use.

Noel countered that in addition to possession, Rivera sent photos of the weapon to another gang member for possible sale.

Ultimately, Judge Howell agreed with Marquez and dropped the enhancement, but held Rivera to answer on the charges.

The change means Rivera faces up to three years in county prison, instead of six years in state prison, according to Noel.

A trial date may be set for Perez and Rivera on March 14. The defendants remain in custody.